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The 12 most go-to grammar tips

Most of us must communicate in writing—not necessarily with paper and a writing instrument. Digital media has changed only the tools. In fact, as new means of communication have multiplied, so have demands for the old-fashioned skill of conveying information in writing.

We still write cover letters, memos and notes. But now, we also write status updates, blog posts, emails, online comments, tweets, bullets for slide presentations, captions for visuals to share on social media, and so on.

In nearly all cases (text messages aside) correct grammar matters. This is especially true if communicating for work or to a professional audience. Using correct grammar begets credibility. Think of it as an extension of appearance: Spiffy beats sloppy.

The goal, though, is to be spiffy, swiftly. And that’s the purpose of this essay: It’s an organized, streamlined guide. It’s alphabetized. And, it gives one-word answers. (Example sentences follow each answer, giving context.)

So, next time you need grammar help on the fly, here are 12 go-to tips!

1. Accept/except

Accept = ReceiveI must accept blame for the accident because I ran the red light.He accepted the award on behalf of the whole group.

Advise = VerbHe advised her to be careful in dealing with the complicated situation.I don’t know anything about it; please advise me how to proceed.

3. Among/between

Among = GroupNow that you’re registered for the conference, please mingle among the crowd.These fourth graders are among the best scholars in the entire school district.

Between = TwoThis big secret must stay between the two of us.The only distance that matters is between the start of the race and the finish line.

4. Disinterested/uninterested

Disinterested = ImpartialTo avoid conflicts of interest, they sought a disinterested person to settle the dispute.Judges are supposed to be disinterested and fair.

Uninterested = BoredThe boy was so uninterested in the lesson he fell asleep.I was uninterested in the play and left at the intermission.

5. Eager/Anxious

Eager = KeenShe was eager to start school, which she looked forward to every year.The graduate was eager for the ceremony to end and for the celebration to start.

Anxious = WorriedAfter his wife went into labor six weeks early, Mr. Smith was anxious as he rushed to the hospital.Halloween makes me anxious because spooky creatures and movies scare me.

6. Elicit/illicit

Elicit = ObtainI asked the group many questions about the topic to elicit their views.A neighborhood survey that elicits many responses will produce more complete data than a small sample of opinions.

Illicit = NaughtyThe dog was trained to hunt for illicit drugs hidden in luggage.The married man arranged an illicit meeting with an attractive co-worker.

7. Lay/lie

Lay = …SomethingAh, the mother of confusing grammar conundrums. I kind of cheated here to fulfill my intention to use one-word clues. This trick, however, should remind you that lay must be followed by something (and often, is also followed by somewhere).

I lay the pen on the table.Please lay the dirty rag in the laundry basket.Chickens lay eggs.

Lie = PositionedLiestill, so the teacher doesn’t hear us in here!Many trees lie between the two houses.

Bonus tips for past tense:

Lay (…something) = laidLast week, the man laid his keys on the table, and he found them just today.

Lie (positioned) = layFour hours ago, the political candidate lay down to rest, so he would be ready for the debate that starts now.

• Don’t get confused! The past tense of lie still means positioned!• The past tense of lay still means to …something, somewhere.

8. Loose/lose

Loose = FreeThe dog got loose because the fence was open.To be comfortable, I always travel in loose clothing.

Since = TimeI’ve been losing weight since I started eating more vegetables and walking an hour daily.Ever since the boy chose to be more polite, he found it was actually easier to be courteous.

Because = CausationI opened the last can of soda because I was really thirsty.BecauseI was running late, I put on one brown sock and one black sock.

10. That/who

That = ThingsDid you see the chairs that were broken?Please, quickly unload the groceries that sat in the car.

Who = PeopleThe students who raised their hands regularly to ask questions got the best grades.I felt sorry for the construction workers who toiled in the sweltering August heat.

11. They’re/there/their

They’re = ContractionThey’recoming to the play together and want to sit together as one group.

There = PlaceTake the picture over there; not here, but there.

Their = PossessionThe sole heir to the fortune was their only nephew.

Bonus tips:

There (place) is spelled similarly to these “place” words: Here, WhereTheir (possession) has the word “heir”-a person who inherits possessions-within it.

12. Who/whom

Who = SubjectWhocleared the table?Who loves her?

Whom = ObjectYou cleared the table with whom?He loves whom?

Anticipating groans from Grammar Nazis, I should make clear these twelve are just short-cut substitutes. One-word tips, by design, can’t address nuance, exceptions or special cases. This list, however, can be helpful in a pinch. Drag it to your desktop at work. Or print it out. Finding an answer when you get stuck won’t take long.

For more in-depth guidance on usage and writing, my favorites are When Words Collide, by Lauren Kessler and Duncan McDonald; On Writing Well, by William Zinsser; and the classic The Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White. This advice from Messrs. Strunk and White is nearly a century old and still perfectly relevant: “Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.”

If you’re writing content for an audience that includes the news media, the Associated Press Stylebook is also helpful. That guide, which gets updated regularly, is available online.